Wednesday, December 29, 2021

Stitching together a plan

 Hi all! Well, it looks like we made it through 2021-- hurray for us! It had its challenges, but now I'm ready to look ahead to the new year and make a few stitching plans. To get ready for 2022 I'm taking inventory of my sewing room and sorting out what to sew, what to toss, and what to repurpose. I'm being ruthless. (Kind of. We all know how hard it is to part with some things!) Want to come along and see what's up? Come on in, but watch out for pins on the floor. . . and you know there's thread everywhere, right?
 
 
Before we look forward, I guess we should look back at my goals for 2021, shouldn't we? I actually had some! Let's see:
 
Get the remaining unquilted tops quilted or donated (or both!)  According to my handy dandy quilt project spreadsheet, I have 23 completed quilts for 2021, along with three tops and a few other small projects. Hold the phone-- can that be right? Yep, it is. Before anyone is impressed, the vast majority of these are projects from the closet, some of which had been there for quite some time.  Happy to move those out! So I guess that also counts for the next goal, Continue cleaning out and repurposing UFOs. Yay for that!
 
Another goal was Learn one new skill or take on one new challenging project. I did this! I've been learning to longarm and renting time on a machine. I'm getting better at it, but I have a ways to go. It's super fun, though, and learning is definitely not a chore.

This quilt is a finished UFO that became a donation, plus it's the first one I used for my longarming lessons. Win, win, win!
 
An unrealized goal: Finally finish a quilt for our bed. It's cut, with some stitching, but mainly in pieces-- lots and lots of pieces. Let's make that a goal for this year, okay? 
 
So, I didn't do too badly with my goals for last year. I got all those tops out of the closet, and that's a major win. I must really like quilting, or else I really had a lot of time alone, or both. Of course, we did have Covid lockdowns and protocols and social distancing and grocery pickup, so I'm sure that all contributed too.

Let's look ahead! I have some specific things to accomplish next year:

--Finally, finally finish a quilt for our bed. It's pretty shameful that I don't have this completed yet.

--Quilt up and donate the three remaining UFO tops that are hanging in the closet.
 
 
 
--I've repurposed and ditched and finished a number of piecing UFOs, and I kept two that I really want to finish, so one goal is to finish the black blocks quilt:

 
--I also want to finish the string flowers quilt:

 
--In a related goal, I want to finish putting together the free-pieced churches (no pictures, sorry)

-- A few years ago, I purchased a bunch of custom hand-dyed yardage from Vicki Welsh:

 
There is at least 11 yards here. I bought it for a specific quilt pattern and then I never made the quilt. Because I am very, very stupid. So my goal is to either make the planned quilt (which I no longer want to do) or find a project or two to make use of this really beautiful yardage. Open to suggestions!
 
--I also need to start a hand applique project which I have been planning for years. It's time. 
 
--Finally, on a personal note, I will continue my search for balance in a world full of stress. Clearly I have little idea what this means, but I keep trying! 

Those look like some good goals, so that's my list! Let's meet back here next year and see how I did, okay?
 
With that, let's put a bow on 2021 and turn towards 2022. It's bound to be a good year, at least in our little quilty community. Let's pray that it finally brings an end to the pandemic and more normalcy, along with greater health and happiness for all. Until then, though, be as safe as you can and stay healthy.

Wishing you all a new year filled with peace and joy, health and happiness! Happy 2022, everyone!

Sharing at the 2022 Planning Party at Quilting Jet Girl.

14 comments:

karenbbsnow said...

Happy 2022, lots of pretty projects to help you avoid, or at least deal with, stress.

piecefulwendy said...

Happy New Year, Mari! You've wrapped up 2021 pretty well, I'd say!

The Joyful Quilter said...

Fabulous post, Mari! Best of luck on your goals for 2022. Happy New Year!!

Exuberantcolor/Wanda S Hanson said...

Congratulations on finishing 23!! Now maybe with the use of a longarm you will have another great productive year.
Why not buy some stash packs from Vicki to add to the large pieces you have for more variety of choices and more fun.

Sara said...

Lots of great accomplishments to cheer about. I'm hoping I can be more ruthless in paring down my stash this year as well. Good luck to us all on the goals we're setting for a brand new year!

barbtaz said...

I didn't put any goals in writing, but I finished 14 quilts and 10 table runners. My goal for next year is to finish more UFO's and sew from my stash. DH is retiring at age 61 due to his health so my disposable income will be cut by a lot!

Tehachap said...

Your fabrics call "Easter!!" to me -- with bright yellow Tulips, Purple eggs, yellow and green baskets and bunny rabbits! Any way to make blocks that are scenes reminiscent of Easter as a child would see it??

MissPat said...

Happy New Year, Mari. You accomplished a lot, despite the obstacles. I'm sure 2022 will be a better year for us all.
Pat

Yvonne from Quilting Jetgirl said...

Your progress is 2021 is wonderful! I hope that you have a great 2022 and have fun working on your quilting goals throughout the year.

QuiltGranma said...

Very productive and beautiful finishes. Sew glad for you!

Karin - BluePip Designs said...

It's so great to finish those old lingering projects - good luck finding an awesome new project for your dyed yardage!

Quiltdivajulie said...

Best wishes on those goals for 2022 and congratulations on all the progress made in 2021! Happy New Year to you and yours (safe and healthy are the keywords).

LA Paylor said...

Hi Mari, great achievements especially learning longarm quilting... balance huh? Wonder if you can bottle that and send me some? happy new year to a great friend

scraphappy said...

Learning to longarm will certainly help with the goal of clearing out some flimsies. Whatever 2022 brings, it is certainly fun to look forward to a new start after 2021.